Blackhawk Troopers keep traditions alive

Photo By Sgt. Christopher Johnston | U.S. Army Pvt. Jeremiah Joliff, left, and Spc. Michael Hill carry a log during a spur ride event at Fort Benning, Ga., June 19, 2013. The spur ride included an Army physical fitness test, a five-mile run, an obstacle course, individual weapons qualifications, night land navigation, and other warrior tasks. Joliff and Hill, both are assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Johnston/Released)  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

06.24.2013

Story by Sgt. Christopher Johnston 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORT BENNING, Ga. - The U.S. Army is rich with traditions. One of the oldest traditions belongs to cavalry units by how they earn their spurs. Troopers with 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, participated in a spur ride June 19 and 20, at Fort Benning, Ga., to earn theirs.

The Order of The Spur has been a cavalry tradition since its origins in 1775. A horse with a shaved tail was given to a new Trooper arriving at a cavalry unit. Only when a new Trooper was able to prove their ability to perform with their horse and saber were they awarded spurs.

Cavalry units no longer ride horses. They have adapted to the modern technology that is required for operations on today’s battlefield, but the tradition of earning their spurs is still alive and well, especially for Blackhawk Troopers.

They began their spur ride on a humid Wednesday morning at 4:30 a.m. with an Army Physical Fitness Test followed by a five-mile run, an obstacle course, individual weapons qualifications, night land navigation and other warrior tasks, and finally ended near 7 a.m. the next morning.

“I am exhausted right now, but we just have to push through it,” said Pfc. Gung Yang, a cavalry scout and Statesville, N.C., native right before his night land navigation portion of the spur ride.

“Me and my team have been working really good together. That’s what this is all about, working together to help each other get through this,” said Yang.

“The Order of the Spur is more about a brotherhood than anything else,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Edmundo Trivino, the senior spur holder for this spur ride.

“At the end of it all, everyone will have aches and pains but they will all have earned their spurs and it’s a great accomplishment for each and every Trooper,” said Trivino.

Once the spur ride is complete, the final part of the tradition is the spur dinner. During the spur dinner, Troopers received their Order of the Spur Certificate and their sponsor placed silver spurs on the shoe of each new spur holder.

Eighty-nine individuals received their spurs at the dinner, to include two soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment 3rd ABCT, and two Army cadets.

Guest speaker at the spur dinner was Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) Ricky W. Young, formerly assigned to 3/1 Cav.

Young spoke about the reasons to continue the tradition of the spur ride and the meaning of the bond created by it.

“We do not train for war so we can kill. We train for war so when we are called to go, those same people you shared those hardships out there during that spur ride, you make sure you bring them home,” said Young.

• Date Taken: 06.24.2013
• Date Posted: 06.24.2013 17:28
• Story ID: 109181
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US
• Hometown: CENTRALIA, IL, US
• Hometown: LILBURN, GA, US
• Hometown: MASCOTTE, FL, US
• Hometown: STATESVILLE, NC, US
• Hometown: WEATHERFORD, TX, US